Diwali/Deepavali - Legend Of Origin and Celebration

The month of October 2011 is blessed with the presence of two of Hinduism’s biggest festivals – Navratri/Durga Pooja and Diwali / Deepavali. This is the first post in a series of posts about Diwali / Deepavali, regarding it’s origin, celebration and relevance. Diwali / Deepavali is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hinduism. The word ‘Diwali / Deepavali’ literally means a row of clay lamps and hence it is undoubtedly the ‘festival of lights’. But, Diwali / Deepavali is more than just lights, crackers and sweets. Diwali / Deepavali has a universal message, it is a celebration of ‘the triumph of good over evil’.

The starting of Diwali / Deepavali festivities is marked by a thorough cleaning of the household. The ladies of the house throw all old rags, clothes, utensils, etc. and replace them with new ones. Houses are often painted and decorated with lights. The household is beautified to the maximum possible limit of the family.

There are several legends associated with Diwali / Deepavali. One commonly believed legend is that of a celebration of Lord Rama’s return. Diwali / deepavali is said to be the celebration of the day that Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Devi Sita returned to Ayodhya after the 14 years of exile. The citizens of Ayodhya and neighbouring kingdoms were said to have lit lamps and beautified the streets to welcome Lord Rama and Sita Devi. The happiness of the citizens was expressed through the exchange of sweets and gifts. This event is said to be the origin of Diwali / Deepavali celebrations. Every year this celebration is conducted to revive the memory of the joyous victory of Lord Rama. Diwali / Deepavali is hence also an awareness campaign to remind people that the path of justice and dharma is always the best choice. It is a symbolic welcoming of brightness and auspiciousness to one’s life. There are more legends related to Diwali / Deepavali and rituals related to it’s celebration, which we shall see in the rest of the series.Om

Please do share any other legends related to Diwali / Deepavali that you know of, in the comments

Diwali/Deepavali - How Each Day Is Celebrated

Depending on the regional differences, Diwali / Deepavali is celebrated from 1-6 days and follow different rituals. The northern regions of India usually celebrate Diwali / Deepavali for longer durations and give it more importance than the southern regions.

In the five day celebration of Diwali / Deepavali, the first day is known as ‘Gowatsa Dwadashi’. It is celebrated as the day on which the King Prithu chased Mother Earth and eventually brought prosperity to it’s inhabitants. Since Mother Earth is represented as a cow in the legend, on this day pooja is performed for cows and their calves.

The second day known as, Dhanteras is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Dhanwantari , the God of Medicines. It is also considered auspicious to buy gold, silver, gems and other wealth on this day.

Narka Chaturdasi is the name of the third day and is rejoiced as the day on which Lord Krishna killed Narakasura. This day is celebrated by the burning of Narakasura effigies, in a symbolic representation of the destruction of evil. This day is considered as the main day of Diwali / Deepavali. Devotees perform pooja to Lord Vishnu / Krishna, exchange gifts, prepare sweets and burst firecrackers.

The fourth day is celebrated with Lakshmi Devi pooja. It is a request to Devi Lakshmi to bless the family with prosperity and wealth. The lighting of clay lamps (diyas) is done on this day also.

Govardhan pooja is the day on which lord Krishna is said to have saved the villagers from the wrath of Lord Indra by lifting the mighty mountain Govardhana on his little finger. It is the fifth day of Diwali / Deepavali and is celebrated as a show of gratitude to the compassion of the Lord.

The sixth and final day of Diwali / Deepavali is known as Yama Dwitiya. This day is celebrated mostly by the women of the household to ask Lord Yama (the god of death), to safeguard the lives of their brothers and husband.

This is just a very brief look at the various celebrations since like I said before, it varies greatly from region to region. Om

Please do let me know how you celebrate your Diwali / Deepavali through the comments. 

Maha Sudarshan Mantra – For protection From Enemies,Misfortune, Planets & Ghosts

Sudarshan Chakra is the name of the powerful discus weapon present in Lord Mahavishnu’s hand. It is considered one of the most powerful divine weapons capable of destroying all evil.

The following Sudarshan mantra can be regularly chanted to remove all miseries caused by enemies, for protection from unforeseen events and to keep evil entities like ghosts away. Regular chanting of this mantra will cover the devotee's body in a divine aura by the grace of lord Sudarshan. This mantra is especially useful for the exorcism of ghosts.

Om kleem krishnaya govindaya gopjanavallabhaya

Paraya param purushaya paramatmane

Parakarma mantrayantraushadastrashastrani

Samhara samhara mrityormochaya mochaya

Om namo bhagavathe mahasudarshanaya

Deepthre jwala pareethaya sarvvadikshobhannakaraya brahmane

Parajyothishe huum phutt

Try to repeat the mantra for 11 or 108 times daily in the morning or evening (before sunset). It can be made a highly beneficial habit to help us live happily in this ‘kali yuga’.
[ Note - It is advised to practice proper saadhana while using this mantra]

Lord Vishnu Teaches Lord Brahma About Time

There is a simple story told in folk tales that puts the concept of time into perspective for us. Once there was a conversation between Lord brahma and Sage Narada in the presence of Lord Vishnu. Sage narada asked brahma about the secrets of the universe. While explaining, Lord Brahma started boasting about his immortality and how he knew everything about the universe. Sage Narada praised Brahma, and that made him boast even more. Lord Vishnu kept silent during the whole conversation. After Sage Narada left, Vishnu asked Brahma if he would come to meet someone with him. Lord Brahma was in a very happy mood and obliged.

Vishnu manifested a chariot and asked Brahma to be seated in it. Brahma agreed and was taken by Vishnu to a realm of the universe which Lord Brahma himself didn’t know about. Brahma was starting to slowly lose his ego and looked on in awe at the mysterious surroundings. When the chariot stopped and they got down,Lord Brahma saw a sage sitting and meditating at a distance.

Lord Vishnu went near the sage with Brahma and asked the sage to introduce himself to Lord brahma. The sage explained that he has been meditating here for eons and that when the lifetime of one Lord Brahma comes to an end, one hair of the sage becomes grey and falls off (the sage is said to have a full head of long black hair and has a name denoting the same). And after each hair falls off like this from his head, he will die. Lord Brahma was astounded on listening to this. Lord Brahma had believed till now that he was immortal and that there was no end to his powers. 

Then Lord Brahma asked the sage if there are any more such people in this mysterious realm. The sage said that on going ahead there is a sage named ‘Ashtavakra’, who had eight deformities in his body. The sage also added that when all his fair fall off and he dies, one deformity of sage Ashtavakra would be straightened. Lord Brahma was speechless. Vishnu then thanked the sage and went to meet sage Ashtavakra.

Aghora Mantra – To Remove Ghosts, Evil Entites (Exorcism)

Aghora mantra is used to get blessings from the angry avatar of Lord Shiva. It is a request to Lord Shiva to take on his fierce and angry form and come to our assistance. It is used to fight influences from evil ghosts, bad planetary positions, enemies,etc. It is very beneficial to repeat the mantra 21 times while holding a copper pot full of water in your right hand, and then drinking the water or sprinkling it on family members. This will help to safeguard life and property.

Om hreem sphura sphura prasphura prasphura

Kkhora kkhoratharathanuroopa

Chada chada prachada prachada

Kaha kaha vama vama

Bandha bandha khadaya khadaya huum phutt